Customized hardware selection for a mobile phone

• US 9,106,764 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2014
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Chan, Alistair K., Eckhoff, Philip A., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Tuckerman, David B., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): WASHINGTON, ERIKA ALISE
• Application Number:
  US14/501,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20150072734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 315 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A method of customizing hardware by an end user for a mobile phone is provided. The method includes receiving from an end-user a selection of a mobile phone shell from a set of mobile phone shells, sending to the end-user a subset of interchangeable hardware components having different functions, and receiving from the end-user a selection of at least one hardware component from the subset of interchangeable hardware components. The subset of interchangeable hardware components is generated based on a compatibility between the selected mobile phone shell and the set of available interchangeable hardware components.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device comprising:

a platform having a generally rigid structure and including more than one hardware component receivers;

the more than one hardware component receivers each configured to removably receive and electrically couple with a respective interchangeable hardware module selected from at least two interchangeable hardware modules; and

processing electronics including a bus and configured to communicatively couple with an interchangeable hardware module removably received and electrically coupled with a respective hardware component receiver of each of the more than one hardware component receivers,

wherein the more than one hardware component receivers and the processing electronics have a bus modular architecture allowing the number and locations of interchangeable hardware modules respectively electrically coupled with the more than one hardware component receivers to vary.

2. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the platform, the more than one hardware component receivers, and the processing electronics comply with an interchangeability standard.

3. The mobile communication device of claim 2, wherein the interchangeability standard includes (i) a form or fit configuration providing the removable receiving between a hardware component receiver and an interchangeable hardware module, (ii) a dimensional or structural configuration providing the electrically coupling between a hardware component receiver and an interchangeable hardware module, and (iii) a protocol for communicating between the processing electronics and an interchangeable hardware module.

4. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the at least two interchangeable hardware modules include at least two interchangeable computing hardware modules, each of the at least two interchangeable computing hardware modules respectively include processing electronics.

5. The mobile communication device of claim 4, wherein the processing electronics include a memory and a processor.

6. The mobile communication device of claim 4, wherein the processing electronics include a memory and a processor configured to electronically interact with another interchangeable hardware module selected from the at least two interchangeable hardware modules and communicatively coupled using the communications module.

7. The mobile communication device of claim 4, wherein the processing electronics include one or more microprocessors, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a circuit containing one or more processing components, a group of distributed processing components, circuitry for supporting a microprocessor, or other hardware configured for digital processing.

8. The mobile communication device of claim 1, further including an antenna, and wherein the antenna and the processing electronics are further configured to communicate with a wireless network.

9. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein a first hardware component receiver of the more than one hardware component receivers includes a first dimensional or structural configuration allowing it to removably receive and electrically couple with one of a first group of the at least two interchangeable hardware modules but not with one of a second group of the at least two interchangeable hardware modules, and a second hardware component receiver of the more than one hardware component receivers includes a second dimensional or structural configuration allowing it to removably receive and electrically couple with one of the second group of interchangeable hardware modules but not with one of the first group of interchangeable hardware modules.

10. The mobile communication device of claim 9, wherein the first dimensional or structural configuration of the first hardware component receiver includes a standardized first dimensional configuration.

11. The mobile communication device of claim 9, wherein the second dimensional or structural configuration of the second hardware component receiver includes a standardized second dimensional configuration.

12. The mobile communication device of claim 9, wherein the first hardware component receiver is a member of a first group of at least two hardware component receivers each having a substantially same size.

13. The mobile communication device of claim 9, wherein two first hardware component receivers of the first group of at least two hardware component receivers are located adjacent on a surface of the platform.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 13, where the two adjacent first hardware component receivers are configured to respectively receive one third interchangeable hardware module having a third dimensional or structural configuration providing a removably receiving and electrically coupling with the two adjacent first hardware component receivers, wherein the third interchangeable hardware module is selected from at least two interchangeable third hardware modules having different functions.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 9, wherein the mobile communication device is configured such that another first interchangeable hardware module selected from the at least two first interchangeable hardware modules may be interchanged with the first interchangeable hardware module.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 9, wherein the first interchangeable hardware module is selected by an end user.

17. The mobile communication device of claim 9, wherein the mobile communication device includes a mobile cellular telephone.

18. The mobile communication device of claim 9, wherein the platform is configured to be grasped by a human user.

19. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the platform, the more than one hardware component receivers, and the processing electronics include a bus modular architecture allowing the number and locations of the interchangeable hardware modules electronically coupled the at least two hardware module receivers to vary.

20. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the processing electronics include a communication module.

21. A mobile phone platform comprising:

a first side having a first side hardware module receiver configured to electronically couple with a display hardware module and including a mechanism configured to respectively engage the display hardware module and resist removal of the display hardware module from the first side hardware module receiver;

a second side having at least two second side hardware module receivers, the at least two second side hardware module receivers each configured to respectively electronically couple with an interchangeable hardware module and including a mechanism configured to engage a hardware module and resist removal of the hardware module from the second side hardware module receiver; and

processing electronics including a bus and configured to communicatively couple with (i) the display hardware module electronically coupled with the first side hardware module receiver and (ii) a respective interchangeable hardware module removably received and electrically coupled with a hardware module receiver of at least two second side hardware module receivers,

wherein the first side hardware module receiver, the at least two second side hardware module receivers and the processing electronics have a bus modular architecture allowing the number and locations of interchangeable hardware modules electrically respectively coupled with the hardware module receivers to vary.

22. The mobile phone of claim 21, wherein the display hardware module includes an interchangeable display hardware module.

23. The mobile phone of claim 21, wherein the electronic coupling includes electronically coupled to a common communications bus associated with the platform.

24. The mobile phone of claim 21, wherein the mechanism configured to engage a hardware module includes a snap-in mechanism configured to engage the interchangeable hardware module and forcibly resist removal of the hardware module.

25. The mobile phone of claim 21, wherein the first side includes a major side of the platform.

26. The mobile phone of claim 21, wherein the second side includes a major side of the platform.

27. The mobile phone of claim 21, wherein the hardware module receivers comply with an interchangeability standard.

28. The mobile phone of claim 21, wherein the processing electronics further include a memory and a processor configured to electronically interact with a respective interchangeable hardware module electrically coupled with a second side hardware module receiver of the at least two second side hardware module receivers.

29. The mobile phone of claim 21, wherein the processing electronics include a microprocessor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a circuit containing one or more processing components, a group of distributed processing components, circuitry for supporting a microprocessor, or other hardware configured for digital processing.

30. The mobile phone of claim 21, wherein the mobile phone platform, the processing electronics, and the first side and second side hardware module receivers comply with an interchangeability standard.

31. The mobile phone of claim 21, wherein the mechanism of the at least two second side hardware module receivers is configured to engage a hardware module and forcibly resist removal of the hardware module from the hardware module receiver.

32. A mobile communication device comprising:

a platform including at least two hardware component receivers located on a side of the platform;

the at least two hardware component receivers each configured to removably receive and electrically couple with a respective interchangeable hardware module selected from at least two interchangeable hardware modules; and

processing electronics including a bus and configured to communicate with an interchangeable hardware module removably received and electrically coupled with a respective hardware component receiver of each of the at least two hardware component receivers,

wherein the platform, the at least two hardware component receivers, and the processing electronics have a bus modular architecture allowing the number and locations of the interchangeable hardware modules electronically coupled with the at least two hardware component receivers to vary.

33. The mobile communication device of claim 32, wherein the platform includes a platform having a generally rigid structure.

34. The mobile communication device of claim 32, wherein the platform includes a platform having a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape.

35. The mobile communication device of claim 32, wherein the at least two hardware component receivers are located on a surface of the side of the platform.

36. The mobile communication device of claim 32, wherein the platform has a handheld device form factor.

37. The mobile communication device of claim 32, wherein the platform has a mobile device form factor.

38. The mobile communication device of claim 32, wherein the at least two hardware component receivers and the at least two interchangeable hardware modules comply with an interchangeability standard.

39. The mobile communication device of claim 38, wherein the interchangeability standard includes (i) a form or fit configuration providing the removable receiving between a hardware component receiver and an interchangeable hardware module, (ii) a dimensional or structural configuration providing the electrically coupling between a hardware component receiver and an interchangeable hardware module, and (iii) a protocol for communicating between the processing electronics and an interchangeable hardware module.

40. The mobile communication device of claim 32, wherein the at least two interchangeable hardware modules respectively include processing electronics.

41. The mobile communication device of claim 32, wherein the at least two interchangeable hardware modules each have a different functionality.

42. The mobile communication device of claim 32, wherein the processing electronics further includes a bus configured to communicate with each interchangeable hardware module removably received and electrically coupled with a respective hardware component receiver of each of the at least two hardware component receivers.

43. The mobile communication device of claim 32, further including an antenna, and wherein the antenna and the processing electronics are further configured to communicate with a wireless network.

44. The mobile communication device of claim 32, wherein the mobile communication device includes a mobile cellular telephone.

45. The mobile communication device of claim 32, wherein the platform includes a rectangular parallelepiped shaped platform.